SWNOVELXO Chapter 52: Chapter 52: A Corpse That Speaks?
"How come Black Wolf and the others haven't come back since yesterday?"
"Who knows? Maybe they caught some fat lamb and ran off to Rigatte to enjoy themselves."
The torchlight licked across the face of the speaker, revealing a deep scar by his eye that added a hint of savagery to his scornful expression.
Beside him, a tall, round-faced man exaggeratedly widened his eyes and hastily pushed the torch away from his face.
"Come on, really? Didn't Boss Banbao specifically order no one to sneak off to Rigatte while robbing? They can't be that dumb, right? Maybe something happened to them."
The scar-faced man clicked his tongue and switched the torch to the other hand.
"Black Wolf and Grey Rat are both mid-level in Hokushin Ryuu (North God Style). Earth Scorpion's a bit weaker, yeah, but you telling me some roadside robbery got them all wiped out? Use your damn brain. You tall guys store all your brains below the belt or what?"
He lowered his voice, then pointed a thumb toward the darkness behind them.
"Otherwise, why would Boss Banbao be in such a foul mood? It's been months. We're all sick of this robbing gig. A few fat sheep showed up, but we haven't seen a single feather of the main target."
"Everyone knows that kid with the thousand-gold bounty's already left the Asura Kingdom. But Boss Banbao couldn't back down after bragging to the other bandit chiefs about our airtight intelligence network across this corridor."
The round-faced man quickly covered his mouth.
"Keep your voice down! You trying to die?? You can't just say that stuff!"
"Let go! Why not? I've had enough of that bastard Banbao. If he didn't have Sword God Ryuu and Water God Ryuu both at upper-level, who would give a damn? Got his position by selling his ass to Night Lion, tch!"
"...Details, man. Give us the juicy bits."
Scarface lit up, eager.
"Selling his ass ain't new. Every time he goes to the capital, he spends a night with Night Lion and comes back all swaying his hips like—huh???"
He froze mid-sentence, suddenly realizing the voice asking questions was unfamiliar. Turning his head in confusion, he saw a spectacled youth—soft-skinned and mild-looking—standing right beside him, peeking over curiously.
All three fell into an awkward silence.
The kid frowned, irritated.
"Wait, what? You stopped there? Keep going—what about Banbao's hips?"
Scarface and Round-face snapped out of it, both drawing their weapons with a swish.
"Who the hell are you?! New guy? You got no manners? Eavesdropping on your seniors??"
"Think you can drool over Boss Banbao's waist? Dream on!"
The spectacled youth blinked.
"I'm new. Don't really know the rules. Someone told me to call you back. Said that guy Banbao is pissed."
They paused, exchanged a glance.
"Listen, punk. You breathe a word of what we just said to anyone, you're dead. I'm a mid-level swordsman, it wouldn't even take a few cuts to take you down. If I find out—"
"Understood, understood, aniki-tachi~ It's late. Let's get going already."
He turned and began walking toward the direction Scarface had pointed to earlier.
Scarface's anger vanished. Quietly, he exchanged a glance with his round-faced partner. Then, he stepped forward and slung an arm around the kid's shoulders.
The round-faced one silently reached for his sword.
Scarface kept up his friendly act, glancing back just enough to confirm his partner's draw, tightening his grip slightly.
"Hey, little bro. You look unfamiliar... What's your name?"
"I'm Allen. Hurry up. Still about an hour's walk left."
Scarface's face darkened.
"An hour? We'd be there in half that. Allen? Never heard of—"
His words trailed off. His pupils widened.
"A-Ai—"
He tried to speak Allen's name again, but the strength never reached his throat. Even the breath needed to vibrate his vocal cords wouldn't come.
The forest tilted in his vision. The youth, Allen, didn't even struggle—just walking normally was enough to leave Scarface behind.
Desperate, he reached for Allen and missed. Reaching for his sword, he found his arm wouldn't move. He couldn't even lift it.
Then, his vision began moving on its own:
Allen's back spun sideways. Moonlight flickered across trunks and leaves that now bounced above his view. The ground slid sideways. The moon tore the sky above. The round-faced partner's expression flashed with horror.
The grass rustled, brushing his cheek. Warm liquid splashed across the dirt, reeking of blood.
His severed head hit the ground.
Scarface stared blankly at his falling, headless body. The light in his eyes faded.
He was dead.
Allen turned slowly, sheathing his sword. Thick blood dripped from his swordsman uniform.
Round-face stood frozen, blade in hand, trembling like a leaf.
"Allen! You're Allen! Water God Ryuu—"
Allen stepped forward casually.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
The man opened his mouth, the word "upper-level" still trapped in his throat. A soft footstep echoed behind him, followed by Allen's voice in his ear:
"The corpse is talking."
His heart jumped. Instinctively, he tried to turn.
But then, he too experienced "vision moving on its own."
His balance and sense of direction shattered. The forest spun with streaks of white light, bizarre and beautiful.
Allen's grinning face passed in the edge of his sight.
"...Silent Blade no Kata. He's not upper-level in Water God Ryuu, so how—"
No time to think further. His consciousness fell into chaos.
Thud.
His head hit the ground.
Allen's footsteps faded into the forest.
A soft whisper drifted in the wind.
"Fifth one."
(End of Chapter)
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